* En anglais uniquement
An excellent swing-based pianist in the 1930s,
Freddy Johnson's peak years were spent in Europe. He worked with
Elmer Snowden (1925) and
Noble Sissle, then first visited Europe in 1928 with Sam Wooding. In 1929, he moved to Paris, leading his own band, working with
Arthur Briggs, and recording during 1933-1934.
Johnson spent time in Belgium and Amsterdam, performed often with
Coleman Hawkins and
Willie Lewis, and had a final record session in 1939. Unfortunately, he chose to ignore the dominance of the Nazis, was arrested, and spent 1941-1944 in a prison camp. After being released and returned to the U.S.,
Johnson played with
Garvin Bushell and mostly worked as a piano teacher in the 1950s. His sessions as a leader are available on a Classics CD. ~ Scott Yanow